TNA seeks govt. stand on Trinco Buddha statue issue

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 July 2005, 06:06 GMT]Mr.R.Sampanthan, Tamil National Alliance ( TNA ) parliamentary group leader and Trincomalee district parliamentarian made a statement in parliament
Wednesday morning seeking the Government to reveal its stand on the Trincomalee Buddha statue issue following the withdrawal of the case filed by the Attorney General in the Trincomalee District Court for the removal of the statue.

Minister Mr.Dinesh Gunawardene under whom the Urban Development Authority comes and Venerable Athuralieya Ratana Thera, parliamentary group leader of
the Jathika Hela Urumaya ( JHU ) interrupted several times when Mr.Sampanthan reading his statement.

They charged Mr.Sampanthan was commenting on the Supreme Court judgement

"I wish to raise the following question relating to a matter of public Importance viz:- The situation that has developed in the Trincomalee Town, and the Trincomalee District consequent to the installation of a statue of Lord Buddha under the cover of darkness on 16 May 2005, without permission from any authority, on land belonging to the State/Urban Council,Trincomalee close to the fish and meat markets and liquor bars, in an environment wholly unsuitable for the veneration of Lord Buddha.

"This statue of Lord Buddha was clearly not installed at this location for
purposes of worship.

"The motive for this act was the promotion of conflict between the people of
different races and religions.

"This act was part of a concerted plan to destabilize the situation in
Trincomalee, and disrupt the conclusion of any measure relating to the
implementation of post-tsunami activities that could help in promoting
confidence amongst the people in the Northeast; the ultimate objective of
this act being to impede the furtherance of the peace process.

"The vast majority of the people looked upon this as an act of unwarranted
aggression.

"There was a demonstration, a hartal, against this act in Trincomalee.
Sporadic acts of violence occurred at different places in the ensuing days.

"Additional contingents of armed forces, 100% Sinhala in composition, and
additional Police Forces, more than 98% Sinhala in composition were brought
into Trincomalee and stationed on duty in substantial numbers in thickly
populated areas of Trincomalee town. The Trincomalee town and its outskirts
presented a picture of being under military occupation. The Tamil people
feel insulted and humiliated by this unwarranted oppression. The innocent
are being punished for no reason.

"A government team consisting of the Leader of the House and Minister, Hon.
Mithripala Sirisena MP, Hon. Tyronne Fernando Governor Northeast Province,
Hon. Dilan Perera MP Deputy Minister, and Mr.Harim Pieris Presidential
Advisor and spokesman met with the Tamil representatives at Trincomalee on
25th May 2005. The following assurances were given:-

1.Legal action would be instituted in court for a declaration that
the installation of the statue was illegal.

2.Legal action would be instituted through the Urban Development
Authority for the removal of the statue.

3. There would be de-escalation in the presence of the armed forces
and police, progressively returning to a situation as in normal times.

Legal action was instituted in the District Court of Trincomalee as per the
first assurance.

No action was instituted as per the second assurance.

The presence of the armed forces and the police has continued to be more or
less the same.

"A grave incident occurred in Trincomalee on 10th July wherein four unarmed
persons, including LTTE cadres and civilians were gunned down and killed.
On behalf of the Tamil National Alliance I issued a statement in regard to
the said attack. I forwarded a copy of the said statement to Her Excellency
President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga with a letter urging immediate
action. I table the said letter and statement and request that the same be
included as part of the Hansard.

"On the 13th of July 2005 a Fundamental Rights application filed in the
Supreme Court in regard to the legal action instituted in the District
Court regarding the unlawful erection of the Buddha statue was taken up for
hearing before Justices Shiranee Thilakawardane, Nimal Gamini Amaratunga
and Salim Marzook. The media reported that during the hearing Justice Nimal
Gamini Amaratunga posed the question as to whether "anyone had the right to
erect on state land, a Buddha statue thus committing an unlawful act, and
in regard to the said matter, claim relief in court stating that his
fundamental right had been violated". The hearing was adjourned till 18
July 2005.

"On 18 July when the case was taken up for hearing before Chief Justice
Sarath N. Silva and Justices C.N. Jayasinghe, and Nimal Gamini Amaratunga
the same was concluded on the footing that the Attorney General would
withdraw the action filed in the District Court and that the Petitioner
would withdraw the Fundamental Rights application filed in the Supreme Court.

"This decision completely negated the decision taken by the government
pertaining to the Buddha statue.

"The Sunday Observer of 17 July reports that "On receipt of intelligence
reports concerning the possible subversive involvement of a leading
political party in the south, in the recent disturbances taking place in
Trincomalee, the government has initiated a full probe into the entire
range of incidents in the area during the last few weeks". The report
continues, and I quote, "Attempts are also made by certain political forces
to involve lower ranking elements of the armed forces too in these
subversive activities".

"In the context of the Armed and Police forces being almost entirely Sinhala
in composition, these subversive activities place the Tamil people in
Trincomalee in the most vulnerable position.

"All persons taken into custody during the recent unrest were Tamils. Though
Tamils have been the victims of violence at the hands of the Sinhalese, not
one Sinhalese person has been arrested. The law and order enforcement
machinery in Trincomalee is very heavily biased against the Tamils.

"Yet another statue has been unlawfully erected recently on the Kantalai
Tank Bund Road, though all the Members of Parliament in the district were
opposed to such installation, barring one. This is yet another step in the
concerted attempt to disturb the situation in Trincomalee.

"Such a lawless situation does not portend well for peace and stability in
the Trincomalee District nor in the whole of the Northeast.

"Since independence, the Tamil people have been consistently betrayed by
every arm of the government.

The Tamil National Alliance calls upon the government to respond to the
following questions: -
1. What steps will the government take to honor the assurances given
by the high-ranking government delegation in regard to the removal of the
Buddha statue?
2. What steps will the government take to bring to an end the
subversive activities being presently carried on in Trincomalee by forces
with a vested interest in disturbing and destabilizing Trincomalee and the
NorthEast?
3. What steps will the government take to relieve the Tamil people of
the oppressive presence of the excessive Armed and Police forces, and to
ensure impartial implementation in the enforcement of law and order?